Dr Soma Sengupta is the first female chair in Neurology in a US institution, who studied medicine at Cambridge.
We are proud to share the exciting news that Dr Soma Sengupta, alumna of Lucy Cavendish College, has been appointed as the next Chair of the Department of Neurology at Tufts Medical Center, and Neurologist-in-Chief, beginning September 2025. She has also been proposed as Chair and Professor of Neurology at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr Sengupta is an accomplished physician-scientist, currently serving as Professor and Chief of the Division of Neuro-Oncology, and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery Research. In her forthcoming role, she will oversee all neurological services, collaborate with key stakeholders, and drive innovation in areas like epilepsy, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders. She will also work to expand access to clinical trials and develop new training opportunities for learners at all levels within the system.
Dr Sengupta has established an impressive academic and clinical career. As principal investigator on more than 30 federal and foundation grants, her research is focused on improving outcomes for patients with brain tumours. Her work explores the targeting of specific ion channels and the discovery of new classes of therapeutic drugs. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and books.
Her academic journey began in the UK, where she earned a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Wales, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry and an MBBChir in Medicine from the University of Cambridge. She completed her neurology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, with subsequent fellowships in neuro-oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She also completed an integrative medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona, an Executive Leadership in Health Care programme at Drexel University College of Medicine, an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, and a certification in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Sengupta on this prestigious appointment. Her career exemplifies the impact of dedicated research, compassionate clinical care, and visionary leadership - and she continues to inspire the Lucy Cavendish community with her achievements.